Re: Jan 8 Palo Alto Bayland l'expedition result
Damn! ?Sorry i missed you. I was just thinking of asking if you were interested in a portable op today (sunday).?
I had to take a cat in to the vet--she apparently had a stroke late Friday night. ?She seems to be recovered. Now waiting for some test results.?
Eric
Sent from my &$@!? iPhone
On Jan 8, 2011, at 7:38 PM, Hiroki Kato < hiroki@...> wrote:
?
Time: 3-5pm PST 1/8/11 WX: cloudy and cold (mid-40's around 5pm), no wind Band Condx: 15, 17 and 20 open, fair w deep QSB on all three bands QSOs: Managed a couple of Qs on 17 w JAs w 2.5 wtts ?? ? ? ? ? Qs on all three bands w JAs and Ws w 30 wtts, one XE/DJ (a German OM ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?vacationing in Mexico) on 17
Not a bad day.
Hiroki AH6CY
--- On Sat, 1/8/11, Hiroki Kato <hiroki@...> wrote:
From: Hiroki Kato <hiroki@...>
Subject: [QRPops] Palo Alto Bayland l'expedition
To: QRPops@...
Cc:
W6MCA@...
Date: Saturday, January 8, 2011, 12:50 PM
?
| QRPosters,
I will be operating from the parking lot in the PA Bayland preserve this pm, from 3-5. If you happen to have nothing better to do come join me. ?Look for a Prius with my call license. (Come to think of it, easier to look for a skyhook on top of a car, hi).
|
|
|
Re: Jan 8 Palo Alto Bayland l'expedition result
Hiro
Nice to see the activity from the Bay - and congrats on the nice dx.
As usual with contest weekends, I set out to participate in the NAQP with qrp /P in Mission Bay area (close to salt water surroundings)
... returned a few hrs later with 40 states in the log :)
Thanks to narrow band cw and those keen contesters wanting the points, the day's /p qrp activity was a lot of fun.
40m turned out to be a great band for NA, but was also wide open to Africa dx around 03h30Z.
73 all, deon k6wh
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
--- In QRPops@..., Tim Dolan <cyclist@...> wrote:
Nice performance Hiro. Did you hook up those 2 1/2 watts to a loop?
Tim
--- On Sat, 1/8/11, Hiroki Kato <hiroki@...> wrote:
From: Hiroki Kato <hiroki@...>
Subject: [QRPops] Jan 8 Palo Alto Bayland l'expedition result
To: QRPops@...
Cc: W6MCA@...
Date: Saturday, January 8, 2011, 7:38 PM
??
Time: 3-5pm PST 1/8/11WX: cloudy and cold (mid-40's around 5pm), no windBand Condx: 15, 17 and 20 open, fair w deep QSB on all three bandsQSOs: Managed a couple of Qs on 17 w JAs w 2.5 wtts???? ?? ?? ?? ?? Qs on all three bands w JAs and Ws w 30 wtts, one XE/DJ (a German OM ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??vacationing in Mexico) on 17
Not a bad day.
Hiroki AH6CY
--- On Sat, 1/8/11, Hiroki Kato <hiroki@...> wrote:
From: Hiroki Kato <hiroki@...>
Subject: [QRPops] Palo Alto Bayland l'expedition
To: QRPops@...
Cc:
W6MCA@...
Date: Saturday, January 8, 2011, 12:50 PM
??
QRPosters,
I will be operating from the parking lot in the PA Bayland preserve this pm, from 3-5. If you happen to have nothing better to do come join me. ??Look for a Prius with my call license. (Come to think of it, easier to look for a skyhook on top of a car, hi).
Hiroki AH^CY
|
Re: Jan 8 Palo Alto Bayland l'expedition result
| Nice performance Hiro. Did you hook up those 2 1/2 watts to a loop?
Tim
|
--- On Sat, 1/8/11, Hiroki Kato wrote:
From: Hiroki Kato
Subject: [QRPops] Jan 8 Palo Alto Bayland l'expedition result
To: QRPops@...
Cc: W6MCA@...
Date: Saturday, January 8, 2011, 7:38 PM
?
Time: 3-5pm PST 1/8/11 WX: cloudy and cold (mid-40's around 5pm), no wind Band Condx: 15, 17 and 20 open, fair w deep QSB on all three bands QSOs: Managed a couple of Qs on 17 w JAs w 2.5 wtts ?? ? ? ? ? Qs on all three bands w JAs and Ws w 30 wtts, one XE/DJ (a German OM ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?vacationing in Mexico) on 17
Not a bad day.
Hiroki AH6CY
--- On Sat, 1/8/11, Hiroki Kato wrote:
From: Hiroki Kato
Subject: [QRPops] Palo Alto Bayland l'expedition
To: QRPops@...
Cc:
W6MCA@...
Date: Saturday, January 8, 2011, 12:50 PM
?
| QRPosters,
I will be operating from the parking lot in the PA Bayland preserve this pm, from 3-5. If you happen to have nothing better to do come join me. ?Look for a Prius with my call license. (Come to think of it, easier to look for a skyhook on top of a car, hi).
|
|
|
Jan 8 Palo Alto Bayland l'expedition result
Time: 3-5pm PST 1/8/11 WX: cloudy and cold (mid-40's around 5pm), no wind Band Condx: 15, 17 and 20 open, fair w deep QSB on all three bands QSOs: Managed a couple of Qs on 17 w JAs w 2.5 wtts ?? ? ? ? ? Qs on all three bands w JAs and Ws w 30 wtts, one XE/DJ (a German OM ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?vacationing in Mexico) on 17
Not a bad day.
Hiroki AH6CY
|
--- On Sat, 1/8/11, Hiroki Kato wrote:
From: Hiroki Kato
Subject: [QRPops] Palo Alto Bayland l'expedition
To: QRPops@...
Cc:
W6MCA@...
Date: Saturday, January 8, 2011, 12:50 PM
?
| QRPosters,
I will be operating from the parking lot in the PA Bayland preserve this pm, from 3-5. If you happen to have nothing better to do come join me. ?Look for a Prius with my call license. (Come to think of it, easier to look for a skyhook on top of a car, hi).
|
|
Palo Alto Bayland l'expedition
| QRPosters,
I will be operating from the parking lot in the PA Bayland preserve this pm, from 3-5. If you happen to have nothing better to do come join me. ?Look for a Prius with my call license. (Come to think of it, easier to look for a skyhook on top of a car, hi).
|
|
Hi Guys,
I've been planning to go to Death Valley again this year too. But I
also want to connect up with the artist group that regularly shows
up at Texas Springs campground, so will probably go at the same time
as last year... early Jan. If work pushes back my schedule, I'll try
to time my trip to overlap yours. It's a blast to operate from the
lowest place in N. America. Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays.
73, Neil
On 12/29/2010 10:50 AM, Hiroki Kato wrote:
?
Southern Dave,
I would like to join you guys; I am flexibly available
from 2/24 thru 3/10. I can drive my car if that works
well.
Hiroki AH6CY
Sent from my iPad
?
I'd like to go to Death Valley sometime in February
or early March to
operate portable/qrp. Dave Crocker, W6VYC, and I did
this last year and
had a great time. I took my small RV and Dave drove.
We camped in
Texas Springs which is a newly updated campground
near Furnace Creek. I
don't have a specific time as I'm flexible. Let me
know if there is
interest and what time(s) would work for you.
Happy New Year and 73,
Dave
W6DLF
--
Neil Murphy
Creative Lead
Ghostdog Design
650.375.0886 studio
650.533.2015 mobile
|
Southern Dave,
I would like to join you guys; I am flexibly available from 2/24 thru 3/10. I can drive my car if that works well.
Hiroki AH6CY
Sent from my iPad
On Dec 28, 2010, at 10:23 AM, "w6dlf" < daveflack@...> wrote:
?
I'd like to go to Death Valley sometime in February or early March to
operate portable/qrp. Dave Crocker, W6VYC, and I did this last year and
had a great time. I took my small RV and Dave drove. We camped in
Texas Springs which is a newly updated campground near Furnace Creek. I
don't have a specific time as I'm flexible. Let me know if there is
interest and what time(s) would work for you.
Happy New Year and 73,
Dave
W6DLF
|
I'd like to go to Death Valley sometime in February or early March to
operate portable/qrp. Dave Crocker, W6VYC, and I did this last year and
had a great time. I took my small RV and Dave drove. We camped in
Texas Springs which is a newly updated campground near Furnace Creek. I
don't have a specific time as I'm flexible. Let me know if there is
interest and what time(s) would work for you.
Happy New Year and 73,
Dave
W6DLF
|
Re: Dec. 10, 2010 14:00-17:00 PST, Bayshore Preserve, Palo Alto
Tks for that article Dave
I uploaded a few small pics here:
73, Deon zs1d
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
--- In QRPops@..., "Dave Flack" <daveflack@...> wrote:
Great report from ZS, Deon! Here's a link to an article
about why/how a vertical with a single tuned radial
counterpoise works so well.
Dave, W6DLF
|
Re: Dec. 10, 2010 14:00-17:00 PST, Bayshore Preserve, Palo Alto
Great report from
ZS, Deon!? Here's a link to an article about why/how a vertical with a
single tuned radial counterpoise works so well.
|
Re: Dec. 10, 2010 14:00-17:00 PST, Bayshore Preserve, Palo Alto
Hi all
Hiroki's - report is great and what good propagation! Wow !
Here's a quick report from another westcoast.
While visiting here in ZS, we always take hf on the road.
This week we setup camp on the beach abt 100mi north of Cape Town (atlantic
Ocean side,) off the southern most tip of the continent.
Stn includes 706 + homebrew multiband vert ( and of course a good dose of salt water ) + dinner and a campfire under the Southern skies.
Monday night's dark moon made for a really nice night sky,
with the milky way almost bright enough to read a book by.
No rf pollution out here means no noise floor meaning you can 'tune
In and listen' to the world.
Working mostly night time cw, S. America is an easy target and
besides cw, 40 ssb is very crowded at night like you can't believe with all sorts of EU, AP and other 'misc numeric prefix dx' considered rare dx and very seldom heard from my location in SoCal.
Therefore, from here, most all qso's are dx.
Besides zs, Most of Sub Saharan Africa is rf quiet so
qrp doesnt get too far when the closest dx is a few bounces away across either the
Atlantic or Indian ocean or to EU or Antarctica.
(30-50w) normally does the trick with good propagation.
Na is relatively easy on 20 / 40 around 4am Z ( grayline sunrise hr)
The multiband vert is homebrew from an arrl antenna hadnbook chapter on 'portable antennas'. The single counterpoise bottom loaded design sets up in 5 mins and collapses to 2ft sections - highly practical for portable operations. A single counterpoise is adjusted per each band along with a coil tap to match.
From the tests we've done here, the antenna radiates really well at low angles.
More tests to follow, but compares really well to Hustler 4BTV
Having a great time with hf on safari. We'll be heading out
on another trip to a mountain top location later this month.
Pics to follow.
73 from zs
Deon k6wh, zs1d
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
--- In QRPops@..., Hiroki Kato <hiroki@...> wrote:
Cloudy but warm until about 16:30. No wind. One of the best band condx of the past two years.
My lack-of-ham-activities-induced depression was considerably eased today. I had a few leisurely SSB QSOs on all three bands with 2.5 watts (I din't turn on my 30 watts amp at all); 20, 17 and 15, including JAs on all of them. I was pleasantly interrupted by a newly minted ham (a common hazard of operating in a public parking lot) who wanted to learn everything about HF operation in half an hour. ?I was more positively disposed than usual this afternoon, so obliged him with his queries. Hope he will join our rank soon.
I forgot to bring my mag loop (that's what happens when you don't operate for a long time and my brains are not getting younger, regrettably), so I only had the modified MP-1 vertical. I used a military surplus pole/mast, instead of the original one, which is about 3 times longer. (See attached pic) I cannot use it on a windy day but there was no wind today; that's one nice thing about a cloudy day at the bayshore. It allows me to tune the MP-1 more easily broadbanding it quite a bit and at least in theory produces a bit stronger signal.
JA1CG, whom I had met many times on the air on all three bands, was quite surprised how strong I was coming in. I suggested that he power down and see what I could hear. He powered down from his usual 200 watts first to 50, then 5 and finally to 2 watts. I don't think he fully believed me when I told him that I could copy Q5 at 2 watts. He is one of the most potent signals on 20, if not on other bands, from JAs; his antenna for that band is 5 element mono bander Yagi at ?22 meter high. I had a similar experience with JH1OOC, one of the big guns on 17, before. The Kanto Plane, where Tokyo is located, was covered with snow today.
I heard XE2/VE2 M/M having many QSOs (though he didn't seem to hear me) from off the coast of Mazatran, Mexico. He was on a cruise. Operating M/M is my next project. The majority of cruises still don't readily allow ham activities, but some do and many ingenious hams have managed to operate QRP anyway.
Hope all of you had a good day. (How are you doing, Tim?)
73,
Hiroki AH6CY
?
--- On Fri, 12/10/10, Hiroki Kato <hiroki@...> wrote:
From: Hiroki Kato <hiroki@...>
Subject: Come and play with me
To: QRPops@...
Date: Friday, December 10, 2010, 11:21 AM
QRPopsters,
To ameliorate my depression from not having been on the air so long, I decided to spend a few hours this afternoon operating QRP at the Bayshore Preserve in Palo Alto.
If any of you are available, you are welcome to join me. I plan to be there from 2 to 5, WX permitting. Look for the dark gray Prius with my call plate (better yet, look for the mag loop).
73,
Hiroki AH6CY
|
Dec. 10, 2010 14:00-17:00 PST, Bayshore Preserve, Palo Alto
| Cloudy but warm until about 16:30. No wind. One of the best band condx of the past two years.
My lack-of-ham-activities-induced depression was considerably eased today. I had a few leisurely SSB QSOs on all three bands with 2.5 watts (I din't turn on my 30 watts amp at all); 20, 17 and 15, including JAs on all of them. I was pleasantly interrupted by a newly minted ham (a common hazard of operating in a public parking lot) who wanted to learn everything about HF operation in half an hour. ?I was more positively disposed than usual this afternoon, so obliged him with his queries. Hope he will join our rank soon.
I forgot to bring my mag loop (that's what happens when you don't operate for a long time and my brains are not getting younger, regrettably), so I only had the modified MP-1 vertical. I used a military
surplus pole/mast, instead of the original one, which is about 3 times longer. (See attached pic) I cannot use it on a windy day but there was no wind today; that's one nice thing about a cloudy day at the bayshore. It allows me to tune the MP-1 more easily broadbanding it quite a bit and at least in theory produces a bit stronger signal.
JA1CG, whom I had met many times on the air on all three bands, was quite surprised how strong I was coming in. I suggested that he power down and see what I could hear. He powered down from his usual 200 watts first to 50, then 5 and finally to 2 watts. I don't think he fully believed me when I told him that I could copy Q5 at 2 watts. He is one of the most potent signals on 20, if not on other bands, from JAs; his antenna for that band is 5 element mono bander Yagi at ?22 meter high. I had a similar experience with JH1OOC, one of the big guns on 17, before. The Kanto Plane, where Tokyo
is located, was covered with snow today.
I heard XE2/VE2 M/M having many QSOs (though he didn't seem to hear me) from off the coast of Mazatran, Mexico. He was on a cruise. Operating M/M is my next project. The majority of cruises still don't readily allow ham activities, but some do and many ingenious hams have managed to operate QRP anyway.
Hope all of you had a good day. (How are you doing, Tim?)
73,
Hiroki AH6CY
?
|
--- On Fri, 12/10/10, Hiroki Kato wrote:
From: Hiroki Kato
Subject: Come and play with me
To: QRPops@...
Date:
Friday, December 10, 2010, 11:21 AM
| QRPopsters,
To ameliorate my depression from not having been on the air so long, I decided to spend a few hours this afternoon operating QRP at the Bayshore Preserve in Palo Alto.
If any of you are available, you are welcome to join me. I plan to be there from 2 to 5, WX permitting. Look for the dark gray Prius with my call plate (better yet, look for the mag loop).
73,
Hiroki AH6CY
|
|
| QRPopsters,
To ameliorate my depression from not having been on the air so long, I decided to spend a few hours this afternoon operating QRP at the Bayshore Preserve in Palo Alto.
If any of you are available, you are welcome to join me. I plan to be there from 2 to 5, WX permitting. Look for the dark gray Prius with my call plate (better yet, look for the mag loop).
73,
Hiroki AH6CY
|
|
Steve Weber has his ATS-4 CW rig back for sale. Check his website:
72, Dave W6VYC
|
|
The key to the seawater antenna seems to be adjusting for the correct SWR (Standing Water Ratio). According to experiments by Simon and Garfunkle, this requires a Bridge Over Standing Waters. I should probably stop while I'm behind.
73,
Dave
W6DLF
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
--- In QRPops@..., Hiroki Kato <hiroki@...> wrote:
This is very interesting. I am tempted to try building one. Can anyone think of a design to control the height of water pillar precisely and continually? ??
Of course, I have too many things in my queue to work on, but this one does bump off a few ??things in my mostly imaginary list.
Dave, I hope you are feeling better.??
73,
Hiroki AH6CY
--- On Wed, 11/10/10, w6dlf <daveflack@...> wrote:
From: w6dlf <daveflack@...>
Subject: [QRPops] Seawater antenna
To: QRPops@...
Date: Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 2:26 PM
??
Sorry to have to cancel out today. I'm on the mend.
Here's a new approach for hams like us, fortunate to live near seawater.
73,
Dave
W6DLF
|
| This is very interesting. I am tempted to try building one. Can anyone think of a design to control the height of water pillar precisely and continually? ?
Of course, I have too many things in my queue to work on, but this one does bump off a few ?things in my mostly imaginary list.
Dave, I hope you are feeling better.?
73,
|
--- On Wed, 11/10/10, w6dlf wrote:
From: w6dlf
Subject: [QRPops] Seawater antenna
To: QRPops@...
Date: Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 2:26 PM
?
Sorry to have to cancel out today. I'm on the mend.
Here's a new approach for hams like us, fortunate to live near seawater.
73,
Dave
W6DLF
|
Sorry to have to cancel out today. I'm on the mend.
Here's a new approach for hams like us, fortunate to live near seawater.
73,
Dave
W6DLF
|
Good stuff, I think the higher output power with the A123 battery is probably due to higher voltage and as you stated it can source a huge amount of current indicating that it has very low internal resistance. If you have the money and need a light powerful battery, you can't beat the A123.
72, Dave W6VYC
|
--- On Mon, 11/8/10, eric norris wrote:
From: eric norris
Subject: [QRPops] Battery Notes
To: qrpops@...
Date: Monday, November 8, 2010, 10:18 PM
?
Dear Gang:
I've been playing with different battery packs for my herd of portable
rigs--FT-817, KX1, K1, and K2. I thought I would share these with you.? I
originally sent these notes to the Elecraft list in two parts, and I may have
sent a slightly different version of part 1 to this list.? Excuse the bandwidth.
KX1 Output v. Voltage
I tested my KX1 key down with various battery packs and noted the output.? This
was into an OHR QRP wattmeter and a dummy load.? Here are the results, in
descending order of output:
Lithium-Ion Nanophosphate pack (2.3 AH or 4.6 AH) from Buddipole??? ??? 4.3W
12v Pb Gel Cell?
5AH?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????4.0W
Fresh Alkaline 8-cell AA
pack???????????????????????????????????????????????????3.3W
8 C Cell NiMH in spring-clip holder 5000mAH??????????????????????????????2.8W
Mid-life alkaline 8-cell AA pack
spring??????????????????????????????????????2.7W
8 cell AA NiMH?spring Eneloop 2000mAH??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? 2.7W
8 cell AA NiMH 2650 mAH in spring loaded pack??????????????????????? 2.6W
Internal 6-cell pack with Lithium AA??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???
1.5 W
K1 Internal Battery Holder Test
I originally squeezed the 2650 mAH NiMH batteries into my K1's internal holder.?
But they were always dead when I got a sudden schedule opening and good weather
for a little QRP portable.? I replaced these with the lower-capacity 2000 mAH
Eneloop NiMH batteries that are supposed to retain 80% of their charge for an
entire
year.? Then I?attached a wattmeter and dummyload to the K1, and let it call CQ
for two hours.? At then end of this it was still putting out 5 watts and I
stopped the test--a couple hours of QRP portable is usually all I do.
Your mileage may vary, of course.? While looking for battery articles online I
ran across one by a regular contributor to this list, who warned of the rather
substantial I**2R losses from spring-loaded battery holders.
?
FT-817 External NiMH Test
I used an eight-cell, 5Ah C-sized NiMH pack.??NiMH cells are nominally 1.2V per
cell, so this is a 9.6V pack.? The pack was made from two spring-loaded
four-cell packs bought from Frys, glued together back-to-back with aquarium
sealant.? They seem to have little knobs and holes that make them fit together
fairly well this way, except for the wires that run behind the packs.???The
batteries are Tenergy brand, available from?Battery Superstore or Amazon for
about $32 for eight.? ?
Other folks have tested the FT-817 with battery packs of various
voltages.??There is no advantage to using a 12-volt pack according to these
tests.
I put my FT-817 into battery hog mode:? LCD on, rear?antenna connector, receiver
unsquelched, internal speaker, 5W, internal battery disconnected.
Start of test:? Voltage: 10.84v? Current: forgot to measure
End of test:?? Voltage:??? 9.0????8 volts and change under load
The test ran for four hours with the FT-817 calling CQ controlled by an external
keyer, and the?radio was?still putting out 5 watts at the end.? The Triton
charger I?use for NiMH packs does not provide percentage of capacity information
like the Cellpro 10s does, but I believe this pack was near depletion.
???
Lithium-Ion Nanophosphate Tests?
I made some more tests, this time using Lithium-Ion Nanophosphate (A123)
packs from Buddipole.? All were done on 20 meters.? All voltages are no-load.?
I? do not own a precision wattmeter, but a Diamond SX-20C, OHR WM-2, and an
Elecraft W2 using the QRP sensor were all in agreement. Here are my results:
KX1:
I used a four cell 4S1P pack (four cells in series) from Buddipole, rated at
13.2v nominal, 2.3 Ah.? I set up my KX1 to call CQ into a dummy load for three
hours, using the KX1 memory I usually use which includes a 10-second listening
period after each CQ.? I left the display on, audio on through headphones but
sidetone reduced.? My KX1 has the 30-meter board and ATU.
Start of test:? Voltage 13.2.? Power out: 4.3W
End of test:???Voltage 12.9?? Power out: 4.0W
At the end of the test the KX1 was barely warm over the PA transistor.? My
Cellpro 10S charger on the "fuel gauge" setting said the pack was at 48%
capacity.? My guess is this pack would power the KX1 for?12-20 hours minimum
under real-world conditions, but you can draw your own conclusions.?
K2:
I used an eight cell 4S2P (four cells in series, two sets in parallel) pack from
Buddipole, rated at 13.2 v nominal, 4.6 Ah. My K2/10 has every option available
in the solar system, including KDSP2.? I set it up for maximum energy use, that
is?all LEDs on, backlight on, receiver performance set to optimum, speaker on.?
The sidetone was turned down to avoid domestic dischord.? This test ran for
three hours.
Start of test:? Voltage 13.2.? Power out:? 10 watts??Amperage draw on TX: ?2.36A
End of test:? Voltage 12.66 Power out: 10 watts.? Amperage draw on tx: 2.51A
K2 PA section was warm.? Charger reported pack capacity at 9%
Conclusion:
So far I really like the A123 batteries, They are supposed to hold their charge
in storage much better than
NiMH packs
As the K2 test shows, they hold their voltage well when discharged.? They
are?very lightweight.?? At Pacificon when I hoisted the 6.7 Ah pack Buddipole
had at their?booth I accused them of?using a dummy pack with nothing in it.????
The Triton charger is excellent for NiMH batteries?IMHO.? It offers?three safety
settings: 1) total charge time; 2) total charge input; 3) battery temperature.?
This last one requires an accessory probe that I have not found at?local hobby
shops.? I have the original Triton, I think the current one is the Triton II.
The CellPro 10s is only for Lithium chemistries including the A123 cells.? It is
available from Buddipole, and made by revolectrix? www.revolectrix.com? It has a
balancing harness that allows you to charge the individual cells, or the cells
in parallel within the pack without the other cells in series for maximum
safety.
?It can charge two packs simulaneously.?
The A123 cells, aside from being lightweight for portable QRP use, will handle
terrifying?discharge rates--up to 70A per cell.? However, they have a resettable
fuse that opens them up in the case of a short.?
?
For more information on the A123 cells go to? www.buddipole.com, or
www.fmadirect.com?has a white paper on their tests of the cells.
?
My experiments with batteries are over¡ªit¡¯s the A123 packs from Buddipole for
me.? They are completely safe when charged with the Cellpro chargers, have
excellent charge retention with time, are lightweight, and more rugged that
Li-Po packs (as well as being safer from what I¡¯ve read)? ?
I have no relationship with?anybody?mentioned in this message.?
72,
Eric WD6DBM??????
|
Re: San Bruno Mountain Park Wed. 11 to 4
Hi All,
Dave Flack is sick so we are going to have reschedule the assault on San Bruno Mountain.
72, Dave W6VYC
|
--- On Mon, 11/8/10, David W Crocker wrote:
From: David W Crocker
Subject: [QRPops] San Bruno Mountain Park Wed. 11 to 4
To: "QRPops"
Date: Monday, November 8, 2010, 6:53 PM
?
Dave Flack W6DLF and myself (Dave W6VYC) will be operating from the top of San Bruno Mountain this Wednesday, 10 Nov. from 11 AM to around 4 or 5 PM.
We will be at the peak on Radio road in Dave Flack's RV. You get there via the main entrance to the park off Guadelupe Canyon Parkway. Go to the right through the
first parking lot and under the road. Keep going thought the second parking lot
and gate to access the road to the top (about 1.5 miles).
Don't forget to pay the park entrance fee ($5). If I read correctly, seniors over 62 don't have to pay the vechicle fee during the week. You still need to fill out the form and get a pass at the gate. They do check and give tickets.
72, Dave W6VYC
c. 415 308-3461
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Dear Gang:
I've been playing with different battery packs for my herd of portable
rigs--FT-817, KX1, K1, and K2. I thought I would share these with you.? I
originally sent these notes to the Elecraft list in two parts, and I may have
sent a slightly different version of part 1 to this list.? Excuse the bandwidth.
KX1 Output v. Voltage
I tested my KX1 key down with various battery packs and noted the output.? This
was into an OHR QRP wattmeter and a dummy load.? Here are the results, in
descending order of output:
Lithium-Ion Nanophosphate pack (2.3 AH or 4.6 AH) from Buddipole??? ??? 4.3W
12v Pb Gel Cell?
5AH?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????4.0W
Fresh Alkaline 8-cell AA
pack???????????????????????????????????????????????????3.3W
8 C Cell NiMH in spring-clip holder 5000mAH??????????????????????????????2.8W
Mid-life alkaline 8-cell AA pack
spring??????????????????????????????????????2.7W
8 cell AA NiMH?spring Eneloop 2000mAH??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? 2.7W
8 cell AA NiMH 2650 mAH in spring loaded pack??????????????????????? 2.6W
Internal 6-cell pack with Lithium AA??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???
1.5 W
K1 Internal Battery Holder Test
I originally squeezed the 2650 mAH NiMH batteries into my K1's internal holder.?
But they were always dead when I got a sudden schedule opening and good weather
for a little QRP portable.? I replaced these with the lower-capacity 2000 mAH
Eneloop NiMH batteries that are supposed to retain 80% of their charge for an
entire
year.? Then I?attached a wattmeter and dummyload to the K1, and let it call CQ
for two hours.? At then end of this it was still putting out 5 watts and I
stopped the test--a couple hours of QRP portable is usually all I do.
Your mileage may vary, of course.? While looking for battery articles online I
ran across one by a regular contributor to this list, who warned of the rather
substantial I**2R losses from spring-loaded battery holders.
?
FT-817 External NiMH Test
I used an eight-cell, 5Ah C-sized NiMH pack.??NiMH cells are nominally 1.2V per
cell, so this is a 9.6V pack.? The pack was made from two spring-loaded
four-cell packs bought from Frys, glued together back-to-back with aquarium
sealant.? They seem to have little knobs and holes that make them fit together
fairly well this way, except for the wires that run behind the packs.???The
batteries are Tenergy brand, available from?Battery Superstore or Amazon for
about $32 for eight.? ?
Other folks have tested the FT-817 with battery packs of various
voltages.??There is no advantage to using a 12-volt pack according to these
tests.
I put my FT-817 into battery hog mode:? LCD on, rear?antenna connector, receiver
unsquelched, internal speaker, 5W, internal battery disconnected.
Start of test:? Voltage: 10.84v? Current: forgot to measure
End of test:?? Voltage:??? 9.0????8 volts and change under load
The test ran for four hours with the FT-817 calling CQ controlled by an external
keyer, and the?radio was?still putting out 5 watts at the end.? The Triton
charger I?use for NiMH packs does not provide percentage of capacity information
like the Cellpro 10s does, but I believe this pack was near depletion.
???
Lithium-Ion Nanophosphate Tests?
I made some more tests, this time using Lithium-Ion Nanophosphate (A123)
packs from Buddipole.? All were done on 20 meters.? All voltages are no-load.?
I? do not own a precision wattmeter, but a Diamond SX-20C, OHR WM-2, and an
Elecraft W2 using the QRP sensor were all in agreement. Here are my results:
KX1:
I used a four cell 4S1P pack (four cells in series) from Buddipole, rated at
13.2v nominal, 2.3 Ah.? I set up my KX1 to call CQ into a dummy load for three
hours, using the KX1 memory I usually use which includes a 10-second listening
period after each CQ.? I left the display on, audio on through headphones but
sidetone reduced.? My KX1 has the 30-meter board and ATU.
Start of test:? Voltage 13.2.? Power out: 4.3W
End of test:???Voltage 12.9?? Power out: 4.0W
At the end of the test the KX1 was barely warm over the PA transistor.? My
Cellpro 10S charger on the "fuel gauge" setting said the pack was at 48%
capacity.? My guess is this pack would power the KX1 for?12-20 hours minimum
under real-world conditions, but you can draw your own conclusions.?
K2:
I used an eight cell 4S2P (four cells in series, two sets in parallel) pack from
Buddipole, rated at 13.2 v nominal, 4.6 Ah. My K2/10 has every option available
in the solar system, including KDSP2.? I set it up for maximum energy use, that
is?all LEDs on, backlight on, receiver performance set to optimum, speaker on.?
The sidetone was turned down to avoid domestic dischord.? This test ran for
three hours.
Start of test:? Voltage 13.2.? Power out:? 10 watts??Amperage draw on TX: ?2.36A
End of test:? Voltage 12.66 Power out: 10 watts.? Amperage draw on tx: 2.51A
K2 PA section was warm.? Charger reported pack capacity at 9%
Conclusion:
So far I really like the A123 batteries, They are supposed to hold their charge
in storage much better than
NiMH packs
As the K2 test shows, they hold their voltage well when discharged.? They
are?very lightweight.?? At Pacificon when I hoisted the 6.7 Ah pack Buddipole
had at their?booth I accused them of?using a dummy pack with nothing in it.????
The Triton charger is excellent for NiMH batteries?IMHO.? It offers?three safety
settings: 1) total charge time; 2) total charge input; 3) battery temperature.?
This last one requires an accessory probe that I have not found at?local hobby
shops.? I have the original Triton, I think the current one is the Triton II.
The CellPro 10s is only for Lithium chemistries including the A123 cells.? It is
available from Buddipole, and made by revolectrix? www.revolectrix.com? It has a
balancing harness that allows you to charge the individual cells, or the cells
in parallel within the pack without the other cells in series for maximum
safety.
?It can charge two packs simulaneously.?
The A123 cells, aside from being lightweight for portable QRP use, will handle
terrifying?discharge rates--up to 70A per cell.? However, they have a resettable
fuse that opens them up in the case of a short.?
?
For more information on the A123 cells go to? www.buddipole.com, or
www.fmadirect.com?has a white paper on their tests of the cells.
?
My experiments with batteries are over¡ªit¡¯s the A123 packs from Buddipole for
me.? They are completely safe when charged with the Cellpro chargers, have
excellent charge retention with time, are lightweight, and more rugged that
Li-Po packs (as well as being safer from what I¡¯ve read)? ?
I have no relationship with?anybody?mentioned in this message.?
72,
Eric WD6DBM
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David W Crocker